County gets $59M as part of local road-funding package

Indianapolis and other Marion County governmental units have officially received more than $59 million as part of a one-time state distribution of local option income tax reserves, part of a new state law aimed at bolstering transportation and infrastructure investment into local roads.

The distribution is part of $505 million that county auditors have distributed to local government units statewide, $435 million of which can be used for transportation funding. Gov. Mike Pence announced Wednesday that county auditors distributed the funds.

Indianapolis received more than $52 million of the distribution. Hamilton County received $65 million, with the city of Carmel receiving $15.3 million.

“Early this year, we committed to investing significant new funding in state and local infrastructure maintenance to preserve the Crossroads of America,” Pence said in a written statement. “Today, we make good on that promise with the distribution of funds to local governments to further improve infrastructure and spur economic development and quality of life in communities across Indiana.”

Another road-funding measure signed by Pence this spring is almost ready for implementation.

House Bill 1001, along with providing money for state road projects, created the $186 million local road and bridge matching-grant program to fund resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, road reconstruction, roundabouts, and disability compliance.

Applications are being accepted this week through July 15. Indianapolis is expected to submit an application, according to Mayor Joe Hogsett’s spokeswoman Taylor Schaffer, but the city is still trying to figure out which projects best meet the grant criteria.